Fasting not only means weight loss but can also reduce the risk of heart disease. According to a report by the British Daily Mail, researchers at the University of Utah in the United States recently discovered that if a person fasts for at least 24 consecutive hours once a month, the risk of developing heart disease can be reduced by 40%. Experts say this is because stopping food intake for a period of time can reset the metabolism.
This conclusion was drawn from a study of Mormons. Since the 1970s, experts have found that Mormons have a lower risk of heart disease than the average American. A team led by Benjamin Horn, a professor of biochemical information at the University of Utah, further analyzed data in Salt Lake City, where the religion is concentrated, and found that the church's rule of fasting one day a month played a significant role in reducing the incidence of heart disease. Between 1994 and 2002, Horn studied 4,600 patients over the age of 64 who had undergone X-ray angiography. Among them, Mormons had far fewer symptoms of cardiovascular narrowing than others. Subsequently, when comparing 515 people over 64 who underwent X-ray angiography between 2004 and 2006, it was found that those who fasted at least one day a month, regardless of whether they were Mormons, had a 40% lower risk of heart disease than those who did not fast. On one hand, Horn stated that larger-scale sample surveys are needed to draw a final conclusion; on the other hand, he reminded that diabetics should not fast without careful consideration and should follow their doctor's guidance.
Fasting for 1-2 days a week can make a person healthier. Because the large intestine is a "trash can" specifically for collecting feces, if it is not cleaned on time and is allowed to accumulate and rot, it will produce toxins, becoming a "factory" for chronic diseases, causing colds, headaches, and even high blood pressure, cancer, and so on. Fasting, on the other hand, is a whole-body "spring cleaning" that can completely "clear the warehouse." But the fasting that experts talk about is not about avoiding all liquids; you can drink more plain water and fresh vegetable and fruit juices on this day.